Cessna 152U accident near Burnt Chimney, Virginia, September 14, 1991
On September 14, 1991 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152U, registered N24509, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burnt Chimney, Virginia (Burnt Chimney airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. THE UPHILL RUNWAY AND OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1991 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burnt Chimney, Virginia · Burnt Chimney · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152U · all 152Us on the register
- Registration
- N24509 · no longer on the register · serial 15280297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF FROM A 1800 FT UPHILL RUNWAY. FOLLOWING LIFT OFF, HE WAS UNABLE TO GAIN ALTITUDE AND COLLIDED WITH TREES IN HIS DEPARTURE PATH. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE EVER DEPARTED FROM A SHORT GRASS STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED WITHIN WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITATIONS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 129 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,890 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 22, 1991; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hanover Aviation Company
The flight
- Destination: BCB Blacksburg VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 1,800 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N24509 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.